Master of Nine Stars

"Huaxia TV Station! Huaxia TV Station! Hello to all our viewers! Today is November 11th, 2011, and we’re broadcasting live from the Olympic Sports Center in Imperial Capital City. I’m your host, Dai Liunian." Dai Liunian announced loudly. Since he was broadcasting from the commentators’ booth inside the venue, the surroundings were incredibly noisy. On camera, you could even see the cheering figures of the audience in the background.

"And I’m your host, Su Wan," the elegant woman with a gentle smile beside him said. She pressed the microphone to her lips and continued, "The Olympic Sports Center has always been Starfield’s home ground.

Today, here on Starfield’s home turf, eight matches will be held, with a total of sixteen teams competing for a spot in the second round.

This includes solo competitors, duos, and trios. No matter which competition bracket you prefer, we’ve got it all."

Dai Liunian was filled with emotion. "The highly anticipated National Competition has finally begun! Over a hundred teams have come to Imperial Capital City, carrying their dreams and perseverance. We hope all the students can perform their best and showcase their true spirit! By the way, Su Wan."

Su Wan turned to look at Dai Liunian.

Dai Liunian smiled. "Of the sixteen teams competing at our venue, which matchup are you most looking forward to?"

Su Wan smiled charmingly. "I’m very much looking forward to the first matchup. The National Competition has almost always opened with a trio match, with an occasional opening by an exceptionally powerful solo competitor.

In all the years this competition has been running, this is the first time it’s opened with a duo match, isn’t it? At least, as far as I can recall."

"That’s right." Dai Liunian nodded, sighing. "Across the entire world, trios have always been the mainstream. This team format has permeated every aspect of the Soul Martial World.

And solo matches are the ultimate expression of individual martial prowess.

Duo matches have always been a relatively niche category—almost exclusively the domain of twins—and have been thoroughly overshadowed by the other two brackets. But this year, everything has changed. A duo team is firing the first shot!

And it’s not just here at the Olympic Sports Center. Over at the Worker’s Stadium, they’re also opening with a duo match, headlined by the kings of the Northwest Division, Wanqi Wu and Wanqi Yan.

Without a doubt, this is a ’big year’ for duos. The duo competition is finally having a breakout moment! You could say the field is packed with powerhouses!"

Su Wan nodded, her voice smooth and gentle. "Now, let’s talk about the contestants in the opening match here at the Olympic Sports Center. On one side, we have the first-place team from the Outer Region qualifiers, hailing from the northernmost part of Huaxia and one of the four great universities: Songjiang Soul Martial University’s own Gao Lingwei and Rong Taotao!"

In the players’ locker room, Rong Taotao was watching the TV with a strange expression. He turned to Gao Lingwei and said, "Why are those two so fixated on the first-place team? Don’t our opponents deserve to have their names mentioned?"

Nearby, Yang Chunxi spoke up. "Don’t be careless. No one who makes it to the National Competition is weak. Like you said, you enjoy making a fortune on the quiet. Well, right now, your opponents are the ones being quiet."

"With me here, they still think they can get rich?" Rong Taotao mumbled under his breath.

Yang Chunxi shot Rong Taotao a smiling glare. "These two contestants from Bagui Soul Martial University, even though they’re Ocean Soul Martial Artists, aren’t the typical defensive type. Their Martial Arts are formidable, their offense is ferocious, and their Dual Sabers are exceptionally ruthless. Be careful."

"Heh." Lying back on a bench, Xia Fangran let out a sneer. "That just plays right into their hands. I bet these two kids are wishing their opponents won’t use Soul Skills at all, and that this will just be a pure contest of martial arts~"

Rong Taotao nodded in complete agreement. ’Xia Yinyang is the one who truly gets me!’

’The only thing I ever worry about is how threatening an opponent’s Soul Skills are.’

’I never care how strong their Martial Arts are, because they’re never going to be stronger than me, anyway...’

For this match, Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei’s opponents were clearly the type to focus on Martial Arts and technique. For them, Soul Skills were more of a support tool. Didn’t that play right into Rong Taotao’s hands?

Of course, looking at it from another perspective, Gao Zehua and Lin Xiaoxiao had relied on their Sword Technique to fight their way into the top eight of the Southern China Division. One could only imagine the extent of their Martial Arts prowess!

However...

But you had to consider who they were up against!

’My Soul Power level? Not so great.’

’But when it comes to weapons? I’m not just bragging—from the Outer Region until now, I haven’t met a single person who could break my defense!’

Just then, a knock sounded on the locker room door.

KNOCK~ KNOCK~ KNOCK~

All Soul Martial Artist competition venues were, to put it bluntly, just soccer stadiums. The only difference was the various elements added to suit the home team’s field.

"Gao Lingwei, Rong Taotao, your team will now follow me to the entrance," a staff member’s voice called from outside the door.

"Let’s go." Gao Lingwei stood up. "Time to claim our first victory."

"Let’s go!" Rong Taotao nodded at once, and the group quickly left the locker room.

The moment Rong Taotao stepped into the player tunnel again, he suddenly felt as if it were only yesterday.

It was the same, slightly dim tunnel, with the dazzling light of the exit in the distance.

He could faintly hear the clamor of the bustling arena outside.

The moment he stepped out of the exit, Rong Taotao was bathed in sunlight, and a tidal wave of noise crashed over him from all directions.

’Yep, this is the stuff...’

Yang Chunxi and Xia Fangran went to take their seats on the bench, while Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei were led to the sidelines by a staff member to be fitted with miniature microphones.

Rong Taotao surveyed his surroundings, looking at the dense sea of people, and couldn’t help but crack a grin. "That’s a lot of people."